Millions to be spent on Colwyn Bay’s coastal defences

Dec 9 2010 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

Damage to Colwyn Bay promenade

THE green light has been given for coastal defence work at Colwyn Bay promenade.

Conwy’s planning committee gave the go ahead yesterday at Bodlondeb.

Work will start on the promenade and foreshore opposite the northern entrance to Eirias Park in January. The first phase is expected to cost around £8m.

The proposals include building a rock groyne, rock revetment, sheet piling, promenade raising, concrete stepped revetment, reinforced concrete retaining walls and wave return wall and raising the existing slipway.

This work is the first step to increasing the coastal protection in Colwyn Bay and will also create more area on the promenade.

This multi-million pound project forms Phase One of the Colwyn Bay Waterfront Project, it is funded through the European Regional Development Fund with match funding provided by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Councillor Mike Priestley, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “We believe this coastal defence work is essential for Colwyn Bay’s future.

“The regular overtopping has such a negative impact on the existing defences, on the infrastructure nearby and on the local community because the coast road is regularly closed due to storm damage.

“Without this work, properties, the railway line, the railway station and the A55 are particularly at risk given their location near to the existing line of the sea wall.

“The A55 and the railway track could literally fall into the sea.”

The Colwyn Bay Waterfront Project is part of the Bay Life+ Programme.

The waterfront is recognised as being in need of social and physical regeneration.

Cllr Mike Priestley, left, believes sensitive urban regeneration could revitalise and improve the character of the area and thereby contribute to the local economy.

He said: “This work will undoubtedly help regenerate the town, we are looking to put three zones onto the beach.

“A family zone, where they can come and enjoy the improved beach, a sport zone where boats and jet skis can be launched and a bio-diversity zone.

“It will be a heaven for different kind of species.”

There will be major consultations events in the New Year, so the public can have their say and develop their aspirations on the waterfront.